Day 120: Liérganes (Cycle)

Disaster struck this morning! I discovered that the bread had gone moldy, casting my morning fueling strategy into the rubbish bin!

Obviously, a minor First World disaster, quickly solved by eating granola, Greek yoghurt and berries of the forest compote.

After breakfast I visited three local purveyors of bread. The first did not sell pan integal; the second did, but had sold out; and the third, sold me what he said was wholemeal bread, but having eaten some I doubt that it is.

Now for the good luck! As I was walking back to my van I found myself walking into the local Sunday Market. Whereupon I encountered a stall selling masa madre 100% integral pan con semillas (seeded sourdough wholemeal bread, to you and me!). That's tomorrow's breakfast sorted!

Eventually, shortly after 11am, I set off for today's climb, which was to the mountain pass: Portillo de Lunada, elevation 1360 metres.

I have to say that it is a most excellent climb and, is most definitely recommended.

Unfortunately, the first 10 kilometres of the descent is on a road that has a surface that is in very bad condition. Indeed, given the level of vibration it was inducing, I became concerned that I may end the descent with RSI or, like the operators of jackhammers, "vibration white finger." Fortunately, I can report I am not afflicted with either.

Unfortunately, the descent is rated as 3/10 instead of the 11/10 it could have achieved if the surface was made good.

Today's photos:

At this point I'd already been climbing for many a kilometre:

Looking forwards on the climb:

Quite some time later, looking backwards on the climb:

At the summit:

As has happened on recent rides, today's ride also had a bonus climb. Today it was to Picón del Fraile (1608 metres). The only "fly in the ointment" is the fact that the Picón del Fraile is home to a military base!

Anyway, I descended a short distance into Castile and León and took the left turn to Picón del Fraile. Where I was met by a no entry sign - except for authorised personnel!

I'd read that it was possible to cycle it. So I ignored the sign and started climbing. At the two kilometres to go point there is another sign, which has many words I don't understand but, the gist of it is: DON'T GO ANY FURTHER!

Obviously, I ignored the sign! However, my confidence was diminishing on each and every pedal stroke. However, I reasoned that if I executed a u-turn about 1 kilmetre from the military base, I should be OK!

Accordingly, with a little less than a kilometre from the goal of reaching the Picón del Fraile, I stopped, took a sneaky wee photo, and headed back down: hoping that I wouldn't get stopped before reaching the main road and, given my inherent inconspicuousness, obscurity! Phew, clearly I was not stopped!

Picón del Fraile:

Obviously, having to return to the Portillo de Lunada from the opposite direction, I got to bag the "twin" sign of the pass!

Where I also noticed these very purple flowers:

And finally, this caught my eye:

• Distance driven: 0 miles
• Distance cycled: 72 kilometres
• Weather:-
  • General conditions: Overcast to start, then sunny with fwc (fluffy white clouds), later afternoon overcast again.
  • Temperature: About 16°C increasing to 21°C
  • Wind (Beaufort): Light to gentle breeze.

Today's route: